"As for why Feng Yi possesses this item, I do not know. Alas~ However, since I have received his favor, I shall offer assistance if Feng Yi encounters trouble in the future..."
Zhong Li, after his initial shock, came to terms with it. He lay down to continue enjoying the miraculous effects of the Water of Life.
He would simply repay the favor later!
As for why Feng Yi had this item, Zhong Li did not like prying into others' privacy. If Feng Yi chose to tell him, he would listen; if Feng Yi did not, it was no great matter.
The Heavenly Islands would not trouble Feng Yi over such a small matter.
"Indeed!"
Xiao felt that the Great Lord's words were sound and lay down as well.
The karma that had been afflicting him in recent days had increased, and the burning erosion of his soul caused him immense pain. This was the perfect opportunity to heal.
Just as the Great Lord had said, he would repay the favor if Feng Yi encountered danger in the future!
...
In the women's bathhouse next door, they too discovered the extraordinary nature of the spring water.
"Cloud Retainer, do you sense it? This spring water is most unusual; it actually soothes the traces of time's erosion..."
Grandma Ping spoke up suddenly while bathing.
"Is that so? Let me taste it!"
Cloud Retainer, True Lord of the Departing Clouds, did indeed feel a very comfortable sensation from the spring water, but to say it could alleviate the marks of time, she felt she had to take a sip to verify. As a seasoned gourmand, her tongue's perception was far more acute than other organs.
"Master, could it be because of the herbs? Qiqi picked some herbs to relieve fatigue and mixed them into the spring water..."
Shenhe offered an explanation when she heard this.
"No! It's not the taste of herbs. This feeling of abundant life energy… it's somewhat like the legendary Water of Life!"
Cloud Retainer, True Lord of the Departing Clouds, shook her head. Her tongue told her that ordinary herbs could not possess such potent life energy.
"Water of Life? What is that?"
Shenhe looked curiously at Cloud Retainer, True Lord of the Departing Clouds. This novel term was something she had never heard before.
"Hmm… The Water of Life is the dew condensed by the World Tree. It is a sacred artifact of the Elven race, possessing miraculous magic. However, even I have only heard of it..."
Cloud Retainer, True Lord of the Departing Clouds, shook her head. She did not know much about it.
"Since you are all curious, allow me to explain!"
Grandma Ping, seeing everyone perk up with curious eyes, stepped forward.
"Long ago, there was a race known as the darlings of the heavens. They were long-lived, noble, elegant, wise, and beautiful… their appearance greatly resembled humans, but they possessed pointed ears. They were the Elven race!"
"Elves typically made their homes in forests, loved nature, had delicate emotions, and possessed melodious voices, making them natural poets and dancers. Their vision in dim light was twice that of humans, thus they mastered superb archery. They were learned and had a high aptitude for magic..."
Grandma Ping spoke eloquently, sharing some hidden tidbits of knowledge with everyone.
"Elves are so formidable, do they have no weaknesses?"
Hu Tao felt that everything had a balance. It was impossible for a living being to possess only virtues and no flaws!
"Of course not. The heavens are fair. The greatest challenge for the Elven race is reproduction. Their pregnancy rate is outrageously low. Under normal circumstances, for a large tribe of a thousand, giving birth to more than 10 newborns in a year is considered high production..."
In Grandma Ping's opinion, the more powerful the being, the more severe the limitations.
Corresponding to the Elven race's perfect talents was their extremely low fertility rate, which cut off any possibility of the Elven race expanding outwards.
"However, if there were no solutions, the Elven race would have long gone extinct. They used the dew condensed by the World Tree to concoct suitable elixirs to help them procreate..."
Upon hearing this, Hu Tao thought, the Water of Life has such an effect? She quickly drank a few more sips, preparing to have a child with Feng Yi, much to Grandma Ping's amusement.
"Without the Elven race's exclusive secret recipe, this pure Water of Life is merely a portion of concentrated life energy..."
"I see. Then, Grandma Ping, do you know the Elven race's exclusive secret recipe?"
Hu Tao looked regretful. She had thought her wish from yesterday was about to come true!
"How would I have such a thing? Besides, you shouldn't fixate on this item. Nowadays, even the elves are nearing extinction..."
Grandma Ping patted Hu Tao's little head, suggesting she should just take it as a story.
"Aren't elves long-lived beings? Why are they going extinct?!"
Hu Tao couldn't understand. With the aid of secret methods, the elves' reproductive issues had been resolved. Even if they didn't expand their numbers, how could they be going extinct?
"The problem lies precisely in their longevity. Based on their talent for long life, elves generally live over 700 years. Compared to humans, they have much more time to learn knowledge. During that period, many renowned scholars emerged from the Elven race... but through constant research, they uncovered more and more secrets about the world, ultimately crossing certain individuals' boundaries, bringing a devastating disaster upon their race..."
When Grandma Ping spoke of "certain individuals," she merely pointed upwards, glossing over it as if avoiding something.
Everyone present looked bewildered, only Cloud Retainer, True Lord of the Departing Clouds, knew who Grandma Ping was referring to, but she did not wish to mention it.
After Grandma Ping's explanation, it suddenly reminded Cloud Retainer, True Lord of the Departing Clouds, of the fall of the Dendro Archon five hundred years ago. Coincidentally, Sumeru was the place where the Elven race propagated.
After that great tribulation, less than one in a hundred elves survived. More critically, the World Tree they relied on for survival was destroyed, making reproduction a great challenge for the surviving elves once again!
Cloud Retainer, True Lord of the Departing Clouds, could foresee that over the long passage of time, the surviving elves would age and pass away, and the Elven race was destined for extinction.
"Feng Yi is truly extravagant. Even the wealthy Elven race back then didn't dare to bathe in the Water of Life. Haha~ I've really opened my eyes today!"
Cloud Retainer, True Lord of the Departing Clouds, quickly chimed in with a laugh, eager to end the topic. Knowing too much about some things was not beneficial.
It might even lead to a fatal disaster...
"Yes, yes. Today, this old woman will definitely soak for a while longer!"
Grandma Ping tacitly ended the topic and continued bathing, never to speak of the elves again.
...
"Feng Yi, why are you asleep outside? You'll catch a chill like this..."
Keqing, having finished her work, arrived at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor as promised, only to find Feng Yi asleep on the tea table by the entrance, wearing only a thin garment. Worried that Feng Yi would catch a chill, Keqing sat beside him and embraced him.